Investors stick to ESG commitments for a greener future

Investors stick to ESG commitments for a greener future

For Colorado-based Doug Spencer, the devastating floods that recently hit Yellowstone National Park presented compelling evidence for his conviction that investing with an ESG (environmental, social and governance) lens has never been more important.

Like many wealthy investors, Spencer, who is on the park’s board, is undeterred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, soaring inflation or oil price spikes. If anything, the turmoil has prompted Spencer, a philanthropist and full-time impact investor, to increase his commitment.

“In the past year, I’ve doubled down on my alternative energy investments and investments in climate solutions,” he says. “And not just solar and wind but a broad portfolio.”

Spencer made money in business early in his life: he rose to lead firearms manufacturer Cooper Arms, a maker of single-shot shotguns, and sold the company in 1997 for an undisclosed sum at the age of 41.

Having sold his business, he shifted his focus to social impact by working in microfinance institutions (which serve poorer borrowers) and organisations tackling global resources challenges (such as water scarcity), as well as by using his investments to help solve social and environmental problems. “If you’re going to invest for the long term, those are the kinds of places you need to be